Are prediction equations for glomerular filtration rate useful for the long-term monitoring of type 2 diabetic patients?
GROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of prediction equations [modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD), simplified MDRD, Cockcroft-Gault (CG), reciprocal of creatinine and creatinine clearance] in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A total of 525 glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) using (125)I-iothalamate were carried out over 10 years in 87 type 2 diabetic patients. Accuracy was evaluated at three levels of renal function according to the baseline values obtained with the isotopic method: hyperfiltration (GFR: >140 ml/min/1.73 m(2); 140 isotopic determinations in 27 patients), normal renal function (GFR: 140-90 ml/min/1.73 m(2); 294 isotopic determinations in 47 patients) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 2-3 (GFR: 30-89 ml/min/1.73 m(2); 87 isotopic determinations in 13 patients). The annual slope for GFR (change in GFR expressed as ml/min/year) was considered to ascertain the variability in the equations compared with the isotopic meth